Marin Brewing Co. San Quentin's Breakout Stout

__Aroma:__ “Intense aroma of plums and currants with some fig, and as it warms, more fruity flavors or chocolate-covered raisins and dark stone fruit emerge. Slight roasted character comes through, with dark chocolate, coffee, and a slight creamy sweetness that’s evident in the back. A bit of charred marshmallow. Very welcoming.” __Flavor:__ “Fruit esters come through on the flavor, with well-rounded plum and date flavors. Great milk chocolate and malt sweetness with slight toffee in the back. From start to finish, it rides the line between sweet and bitter roast, and no one flavor dominates—they start and finish together. Lots of warmth on the mouthfeel—it’s really amazing, creamy, and smooth as it carries the flavors.” __Overall:__ “This is a really great beer. The fruity esters and flavor provide an interesting complexity in a style that is often so dominated by roast that it’s difficult to find other flavors. A definition of a balanced yet big stout, with hefty amounts of roast and sweetness in almost equal parts.”

Candied peach and strawberry notes coupled with hints of pine and sugar cookies. Bready taste with light herbal hops; hints of strawberry, peach, lemon. A flash of sweet, a bit of corn, and the finish fades away. Heftier body than expected but finishes crisp and clean.

__Aroma:__ “Roasty and malty, with coffee, chocolate malt, and molasses—there’s a thickness to this nose. Fruity notes of raisin and plum as well, with sherry. The hops aroma is low and earthy.” __Flavor:__ “The malt sweetness hits up front, with notes of roast, toast, chocolate, and coffee. Fruity notes of cherry, raisin, and plum are also present, as well as low apple and cherry wood. Vinous and licorice flavors cut through the roast. Medium-full body and clean fermentation, with a finish that is well-rounded and chewy.” __Overall:__ “Good balance between sweetness and roast backed up with a significant malt complexity. The chocolate notes plus the vinous flavors and dark fruit really balance the beer. It’s a very flavorful and drinkable beer with a full round body that carries the fruity flavors and the roast.”